The following letter was transcribed for us by Nicholas W. Easton, nickeaston@accesswave.ca from Mike Salmon's (mikesalmon@blueyonder.co.uk) collection of Prince Edward Island Covers.

Paid (hand stamp 2d) Letter to William Sanderson Esq., George Town

From Arch. McNeill

No postmark or cancellation

Mount Vernon 25th Dec/51

Worthy Bro:

Wishing you a "Merry Christmas" and many a happy return of the Seasons.
I proceed to give you a few hints respecting passing (?) events. I should have
written you long before now but knowing that you recently have been much engaged
in politics, I may yet be in time. I fully expect to have accompanied John McKinnon
to Geo' Town the day of the Election or I would by him send you a letter, but
on that morning business of importance intervened and precluded the possibility
of my going.

I am perfectly satisfied to find that McAuley came off triumphant, though the
Majority is but a patent (?) Unit! And I think Whelan's comment on your G.T.
Election but particularly on McAuley's character rather scurrilous and altogether
unbecoming a Queens Printer. Though McAuley opposed me at a recent Election
yet I urged John McKinnon to go and vote for his Countryman and offered him
money to pay his expenses while at G.Town. And were it not for McKinnons Vote
the contest would be on an equality. Therefore as McAuley is now a S. of T.
I feel thankful that I had it in my favour to send him a Vote although I had
none to give him myself for I love a Bro: [ . . . ] be he who he [may]. The
G. Stream is still flowing and now and then gaining a member. We thought to
have a Newyears Dinner but we have forgotten it due to the coldness of the weather
- &c. The Bros at Belfast have some thought to get up a Dinner on Newyears
day but I doubt that they can carry out their intentions.

We intend electing our Officers next Monday night and have all things ready
for the Installation. You will please reply to this No[te] and inform me when
we c[ould] expect you to visit the C[ . . . ] for the purpose of installing
our Officers. A letter cannot contain the half of what I wish to communicate,
therefore I must defer topics till I see you face to face. Excuse me for not
writ[ing] you ere now, and let this just be forgotten. I have of late been very
busily engaged having Tea, Molasses [&c] retailing it, so that my time is
always occupied doing something.